The start of the college football season brought unexpected challenges for Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood. Michigan narrowly avoided an embarrassing defeat against Western Michigan, securing a win with a dramatic Hail Mary touchdown from Underwood to wide receiver JJ Buchanan, resulting in a 13-12 victory.
Underwood’s first Hail Mary attempt was unsuccessful, as he threw it out of the back of the end zone. However, after a review, officials restored one second to the game clock, allowing Underwood another chance to complete the game-winning pass. Despite this success, Michigan’s head coach Kyle Whittingham remains cautious about Underwood’s position as the starting quarterback.
Whittingham emphasized the need for continuous performance improvement, stating, “He’s our QB right now, but it’s not something that’s infinite.” His comments highlight the pressure on all team members, not just Underwood, to perform at a high level consistently.
Whittingham, reflecting on the team’s near loss, acknowledged the responsibility of the coaching staff in these scenarios. His comments suggest that Underwood’s position is not guaranteed, despite Underwood’s high-profile entrance to the team with a $12 million NIL deal.
In the season opener, Underwood threw for 170 yards and rushed for 47 yards, contributing to both of Michigan’s touchdowns, though he also had an interception. In his freshman year, Underwood recorded 11 touchdowns against nine interceptions.